Aozaki Aoko Case File [501] (Patreon)

“As for food, don’t worry,” Aoko lowered her voice to Doric and Simon. “I’ve stocked up plenty, more than enough even with Edgin’s family.”

“Reliable!” Simon gave her a thumbs-up, and Doric also breathed a sigh of relief. In weather like this, hunting was no fun at all.

“Then our next steps are clear,” Aoko said, pulling out a map. “We set out from Bremen, meet up with Edgin, and then we all plan together how to investigate and end this endless winter.”

“You’re sure?” Doric looked at Aoko in surprise. “Everlasting Rime is caused by the goddess Auril—you really think we can stop her?”

“Of course,” Aoko replied seriously. “Ao, the overgod, doesn’t allow gods to meddle excessively in the Material Plane. That means if Auril were in her divine realm, this couldn’t happen.”

“You mean—Auril herself is in Icewind Dale!” Simon’s eyes widened in shock. He’d only ever read about gods descending in history books.

“Wait, doesn’t that mean we have even less chance of stopping the Everlasting Rime?” Doric asked, confused. “If it’s just Auril’s agents in Icewind Dale, we might beat them. But if the goddess herself is here, how could we defeat her?”

“That may be, but we can’t just give up,” Aoko said, spreading her hands. “Before we flee the north for good, we should at least figure out why Auril triggered the Everlasting Rime.”

“You’re right,” Simon leaned back, staring at the table for a moment. “We have to know why this is happening to even have a chance at fixing it.”

“Then tomorrow we’ll—”

Aoko’s words were cut short as a middle-aged woman, face weathered by wind and frost, approached her, clearly wanting to speak. It was the innkeeper, Kra Mofen.

“Mrs. Mofen, is something wrong?” Simon greeted the usually kind innkeeper with a friendly tone.

“...Sorry to interrupt,” Kra Mofen looked troubled, twisting her apron in her hands as she hesitated about whether to speak.

“If you need help, just say so,” Simon said sincerely. “I can’t promise to solve everything, but I’ll do all I can.”

“Thank you, thank you...” The gentle woman bowed deeply, but Simon quickly helped her up, unused to such gestures. “You two already saved Hwafo before, and now I have to trouble you again...”

Doric and Aoko exchanged glances. “Is something wrong with Hwafo Mofen?”

“Yes,” Kra sighed heavily, looking weary. “Hwafo went missing during the last search party, and after Simon and Doric found him, it took days for him to recover from frostbite...”

“...At first Hwafo seemed normal after recovering,” Kra went on, “but his personality has become increasingly harsh. That’s never happened before—I know my son, he’s always been gentle and filial.”

Aoko listened silently. In Faerûn, a sudden drastic shift in personality, barring psychological causes, usually meant one of two things: mind control/possession by magic, or a curse.

“I was so worried, I searched his room while he was out...” Kra continued, “I found a black chunk of ice—that’s impossible to find in Bremen. So I think Hwafo’s personality change is linked to the black ice, so I took it.”

“I guess your son flew into a rage when he realized you took it?” Aoko asked calmly.

“You’re right...” Kra said tearfully. “I’ve never seen Hwafo so angry... He’s always been a gentle boy, something’s wrong! He even threatened to hurt me if I did it again!”

Aoko could sense fear in Kra’s words, but it wasn’t fear of her son—it was fear of whatever had changed him.

“That black ice is probably cursed,” Simon guessed. “I’ve seen something similar before—it took a lot to break the curse...”

“Please save my son!” Kra pleaded, tears in her eyes. “I’ll do anything if you can return him to normal!”

“Don’t worry,” Simon soothed her, “Let us check on Hwafo first so we can figure out what’s really going on!”

“You’re right,” Kra sniffled and stood up. “Your room fees are all waived, and if you need anything, just ask—I’ll do everything I can!”

“Where is Hwafo?” Simon asked. “Here at the inn?”

“Hwafo is at home, locked in his room and refusing to come out. Our house is right behind the inn—I can take you there now!”

All three nodded. Since the innkeeper was giving them free lodging, checking on her son was the least they could do.

Besides, Aoko thought, with a group including a sorcerer, wizard, druid, and cleric, if they couldn’t fix the problem, it must be really serious!

Aoko stood, picked up her staff, and followed the innkeeper, with the others close behind, to the Mofen family home.

As Aoko walked, the ring at the tip of her staff jingled rhythmically, somehow soothing Kra Mofen’s tormented heart and calming her down.